Rosie O’Donnell is headed back to daytime TV.
My sources say that Rosie will fill the void left by Oprah Winfrey starting in the fall of 2011.
Rosie was overheard telling pals at Joe Allen’s restaurant in New York last night that deal is almost done to restore her to her place as Queen of DaytimeTalk.
O’Donnell will be welcomed back by advertisers with open arms–and wallets! Her original show for Warner TeleRep was a monster hit for five years.
But Rosie gave it up to raise her kids. And it worked. The kids are now in school and doing great, giving Rosie the time to start a new show.
Her other TV efforts have been spotty. She had a mislaunch of a nighttime TV show on NBC. And talk of a political gabfest on MSNBC went sour.
But O’Donnell has spent her time wisely. She started the Maravel Center for the Performing Arts in New York’s theater district for her Rosie’s Broadway Kids. It’s been a huge hit for NYC school kids looking to get into the arts.
But her real love has always been variety shows. She modeled her original show on the “Mike Douglas Show.” Her return to that format will be an overwhelming success.
More details to come.
And for confused readers of Showbiz411: thanks to another site, www.gossipcentral.com, for helping out this morning. We’ve had technical problems like crazy, but by Monday all should be resolved.